Recap: Athletics 6, Astros 5

Athletics 6, Astros 5: Chris Young blasted a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Jose Veras and visiting Oakland rallied to win the opener of the three-game series.

Matt Dominguez and J.D. Martinez each homered during a five-run fifth to put Houston ahead 5-2, but Seth Smith led off the sixth with a pinch-hit home run and Young capped the rally with his fifth homer after Veras (0-3) opened the inning by walking two of the first three batters he faced.

Pat Neshek (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth and Grant Balfour worked around back-to-back one-out walks in the ninth for his 10th save. Young went 3-for-5 and extended his hitting streak against Houston to 15 games.

Erik Bedard allowed two runs on four hits and five walks over five innings for Houston, which has lost all seven meetings against Oakland this season. Seven of the Astros' last eight games have been decided by two runs or fewer.

Oakland starter Tommy Milone struck out the first two batters in the fifth before Dominguez hit a solo blast to left. Jose Altuve ended a 0-for-18 skid with a game-tying RBI single three batters later before Martinez launched a three-run shot into the left field seats.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics SS Jed Lowrie missed his second straight game due to a bruised right foot. ... Balfour has converted each of his last 28 save opportunities for Oakland, which swept a pair of three-game series against the Astros in April. ... Martinez is hitting .364 (12-for-33) with three homers and 10 RBIs in the past 10 games for the Astros, who fell to 1-12 all-time against the Athletics.